September brings openings for new restaurants and retail stores in Franklin.

Do-it-yourself retailer Lowe’s will open its doors to the public at 7 a.m. Sept. 18 at the northeast corner of U.S. 31-W and VFW Road, according to spokeswoman Maureen Rich.

The grand opening – which represents an average investment for the company of $12 million and creates up to 120 new jobs – will be Sept. 20 and will include a traditional board cutting ceremony, Rich said. Ceremony details have not been finalized.

The second-largest home improvement retailer in the world will offer more than 32,000 products overall under one roof in its 94,000 square-foot space in Franklin. Additionally, a 26,500 square-foot garden center will offer a selection of flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies, tailored to the Kentucky climate and lifestyle, according to Rich.

Rich said that over the past decade Lowe’s has evolved its stores to accommodate its main customer – women shopping for their family household. As a result, stores include brighter shelves and wider aisles and other features to cater to that demographic.

&#8220We have gotten some great feedback on those modifications,” Rich said.

Lowe’s opened its first Kentucky store in 1968 and currently has 39 stores in Kentucky with 6,100 employees. Another new Lowe’s location is being built in Mount Sterling.

With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe’s Companies Inc. is in the top 50 of Fortune 500 companies, serving about 13 million customers a week at more than 1,425 home improvement stores in 49 states. The 61-year old company is based in Mooresville, N.C.

Zaxby’s, a restaurant franchise known for its crinkle fries and chicken dishes, will locate a restaurant in the Lowe’s Development Center.

Once completed, the location will employ 40 people, according to owners Mike and Justin Harris, who are lifelong residents of the Franklin area who purchased the franchise rights.

Justin Harris, a managing member of Harris CW Properties LLC, will be responsible for the operation of the facility.

Justin Harris said his family has worked on the approval process for more than a year.

The growth of Franklin is exciting and that area is ideal for a Zaxby’s franchise, he said.

With help from Dennis Griffin, director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Board, Steve Thurmond, executive director of the Franklin Simpson Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Southern Development Corp., Justin Harris said he was able to make the franchise opportunity a reality.

According to Gary Broady, chairman of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Board, Franklin is becoming a retail and restaurant hub not only for Simpson County but for northern Sumner and Robertson counties in Tennessee.

Construction on the new Zaxby’s in Franklin has begun and is expected to be complete by early 2008.

Sunbelt Construction is the contractor.

According to Jill Broderson, assistant director of the Franklin-Simpson Renaissance Association, there are other developments:

€The building formerly occupied by the Sullivan’s retail clothing boutique is undergoing major interior remodeling on the upstairs apartments and downstairs portions for future tenants; Maggio’s Italian Grill, which was set to open by Sept. 15, will take longer than expected to get the building in order because of &#8220unforeseen setbacks” with building materials and other issues; Plum Good Catering & Cafe will occupy the fountain area in the Moore Drug Company space. The cafe, which will be open for lunch only Wednesday through Friday, can be reached at 776-3417; Jill Broderson Interiors is up and running at 202 North Main St. She can be reached at 776-5532; The 45th annual Antique Auto Show and Chamber of Commerce Arts and Crafts Show begins Sept. 15, followed by a cruise-in Friday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with music provided by Mysts of Tyme.

Horse Cave will house Chester’s chicken franchise mixed with McDonald’s and country store

Horse Cave will be home to the first combination of the Chester’s fried chicken foodservice franchise and a McDonald’s that will be housed in a Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store location at 4000 L&N Turnpike, according to Christine Flecha of Southard Communications.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is a 43-year old family-owned company headquartered in Oklahoma City.

Chester’s International is an emerging leader of quick serve restaurant concepts with more than 1,500 Chester Fried licensed and Chester’s franchised locations, according to Ted Giles, CEO of Chester’s International.

&#8220Working with a national brand like Chester’s has proven to be successful for us,” said Joe Cotton, director of Restaurant Services for Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. &#8220Chester’s has a commitment to providing superior marketing support to its franchisees. It is a much needed boost that we could only get from a strong foodservice partner.”

Love’s Horse Cave travel stop will feature a Chester’s store that will offer its customers both take-out and dine-in options.

&#8220Love‘s Travel Stops has been a successful franchisee and we are excited to see our franchise program expand with their growing business,” Giles said. &#8220Love’s decision to co-brand Chester’s with McDonalds is an exciting opportunity to see what our brands can do to increase foot traffic at this location.”